Don't Laugh, Thinking About A Mac Mini. Anyone Using 1?

[adavis]

Hello to all,

 

It's about time for me to upgrade my ppc g4 (Logic 7.1.1, OS 10.3.8, dual 1.7 processor, 1gig ram ) and I was thinking of a mac mini or a imac. I don't have the bucks for the mac pro but I could swing the mini or imac (17in). I plan on getting the fastest processor and 2gigs ram in either machine. Would either machine be much better than what I already have? Other wise I'd probably get OS 10.4 and Logic 7.2.3 and work with what I got.

 

What I have works fine so far and I'm just wondering how much better the new purposed setup would be.

 

Thanks,

 

adavis

[shivermetimbers]

My set up is older than yours and working fine.

If you do get a mini you could use it as a node machine and still use what you have.

 

http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=34876

 

Eventually, you will have to upgrade everything to keep up.

 

The Leopard system will be out in the fall and on all the newer computers.

 

So it's really a matter of spend some now or spend it later.

[DrewMusic007]

I agree with shivermetimbers, I think I run the largest and fastest iMac they make. I'm holding off upgrading until spring 08' when all the potential issues with Lepoard and Logic 8 should be worked out.

 

Never by the lastest and greatest until the bugs are worked out - unless you don't mind the hassles.

 

Not that Macs are a pain in the ass - mine is almost bullet proof.

[stevenson]

mate no one who knew their stuff would laugh at you. the mini is formidable little machine. it is only lack of expansion that is the problem with it. this has been discussed quite a bit over at apple discussions but you could:

 

- skip using an audio interface and use the optical ins outs with mind print.

- leaves you firewire free for audio...

- which if you get the iomega minimax you can expand the number of FW ports

- consider using some USB for extra HD capacity.

- you are still limited to the one FW bus so a firewire FX box is probably going to start choking the system if use heavy audio and FW interface

- only 1 video port for a monitor so consider getting a big screen.

- lack of RAM is really the only con. 2GB is pretty much the minimum for best logic experience. that said my old G4 had less the 2GB and i was running really big setups. it did have 3 internal ATA drives though.

 

it'll do the job fine. it certainly won't prevent you making good music. that's down to you.

[reeloy]

you´re already on logic 7...

you´re already on a big mac...

 

so skip this summer and this autumn and then ask yourself again...

 

if it has to be right now....

don´t choose the i mac....all i mac´s were good design but old design after a while...

the mini mac just disapears in your desk and can end up as a naked node someday...

[adavis]

Hey guys,

 

Thanks for all your responses. I hate all the upgrading and dealing with all the incomptable software/hardware issues and that's one of the reasons I've stayed put so far, plus my system works! I guess when I read these and other fourms and see everyone with nice new toys it makes we want to get some too and I have, but on the pc side of things where I can better afford it. But that may soon change with the Vista OS. My main audio interfaces are RME 9652 for the pc and MOTU pci-324 mk11 for mac which I belive have been abandoned by their makers, however I do think the motu has an upgrade path to the pcie-424 card at about $300. I would just have to spend another $2500 for a mac to put it in. I use these interfaces with a spirit 328 digital mixer and have them connected at the same time using tdif and adat cables. I also have a bunch of midi gear plugged in. I guess when my mixer finaly breaks down and it's not worth the cost to fix it is when I'll re-evalueate everything. For now, it works!

 

adavis

[Logic Pro]

I have one, the logic Boards die, beware!

[Threlly]

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[Spikenipple]

I'm using a PPC 1.5Ghz with 512mb RAM Mac Mini and it still works great!